Great Summer Jobs for Kids and Adults

The lazy days of summer may not be here yet, but for many kids and adults, now is the time to start thinking about a summer job. There are summer jobs for children of all ages, and some new opportunities for earning income as an adult become available during the summer months, too. Here are some ideas to get you started. (See also: 25 Ways to Make Money Today)

Jobs for Kids Under 12

Once children realize that having money means they can buy fun things, they want to earn some money of their own. Until the child is old enough to get working papers, they’re not allowed to get a job. To encourage their entrepreneurial spirit and desire to earn some money, here are some ideas for helping young children earn some summer cash:

Lemonade stand

Bake sale

Car wash (in your driveway)

Yard sale

Summer chores around your home

Yard work (perhaps there are some elderly neighbors who could use a hand raking their yard or clearing away brush?)

Jobs for Tweens 12–16

As children reach their young teen years, they’re often more determined to make some spending money of their own. This is the age when the kids begin asserting more independence and spending more time out with friends, and thus, the desire to have money in their pockets increases. Unfortunately, they’re still too young to get on payroll at most places, but they have a few more opportunities for earning money than the younger children. Here are some ideas:

Jobs for Teenagers With Working Papers

Once a teenager is old enough to get working papers, he or she can start applying for “real jobs.” There are limitations on the type of work they are allowed to do, but some common summer jobs for this age group include:

Fast food employee

Restaurant waitstaff

Paper delivery person

Camp counselor

Lifeguard

House cleaner

Amusement park staff/ride operator

Telemarketer

Administrative assistant

Once your teenager is old enough to get on the payroll of a company, you should stress the importance of saving a percentage of their income if you haven’t already. You can even help your teenager earn their first million dollars, since they have adequate time to use the power of compounding interest.

Jobs for Adults

As an adult looking to earn extra money during the summer months, you have a wide range of options, from temporary employment at local tourist destinations to part-time evening or weekend jobs centered around your existing career. You can even start a summer business to grow your income. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

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Adults can definitely look at amusement park work too, if there's a park in the area. The park I worked at all through high school had certain departments that were mostly staffed by adults. The pay isn't amazing, but it can be fun.